Happy Birthday, Auntie Virginia!

Yesterday was my great-aunt's birthday.

She recently moved to Pennsylvania to stay in a local retirement community. Before that, she lived on an Osage Indian reservation in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. Before that, she traveled the world translating books from lost languages and dining with royalty. At least that is what she told me.

My Auntie Virginia never lets the truth get in the way of a good story.

Someday I will post a video of "Story time with Auntie." Until then, I will share with you some of the exciting tales that she has told me.



1. She used to be a soprano on Broadway.

2. She personally began Head Start.

3. She was close personal friends with Eleanor Roosevelt. In fact, she steered her around parties by the bow on the back of her dress to prevent her from talking to any one person for too long.

4. She was arranged to marry a Russian prince who was part of the Nazi army and a group involved in an assassination plot to kill Hitler. It didn't work out.



Virginia Mathews has many more stories. Despite their questionable validity, they are her adventures. For me, it's an adventure just listening to her talk. You never know what she'll say next!